2017 GMC Terrain

The 2017 GMC Terrain SUV benefits from its roomy interiors and a supple ride quality that works well in the city and even while cruising at highway speeds. The Terrain is powered by a 2.4L engine that outputs 182 hp and 172 lb-ft of torque. The output figures are decent, but are limited by the Terrain's heavyweight which eats into its performance. This has also resulted in a lower fuel economy as compared to the class. The Terrain is offered in five trim levels, and the top trim Denali is covered in another review, which you can check here.

The Terrain's age shows a lot in its interior technology and features, with the older looking dash and a lack of necessary features such as Bluetooth even on the lower trim levels. The Terrain does get full marks from us in terms of safety, with decent scores and available advanced driver assistance features. The 2017 GMC Terrain goes up against the 2017 Honda CR-V, the 2017 Chevrolet Equinox, and the 2017 Toyota RAV4. The Honda is a well-made allrounder, and the RAV4 recently received a refresh which makes it a strong competitor. Even the Terrain's cousin, the Equinox offers a great interior and a comfortable ride quality but weighs less.

The  2017 GMC Terrain is offered in five trim levels: Sl, SLE-1, SLE-2, SLT, and the Denali. Pricing for these trims starts at $24,070 and goes up to $36,025 for the top trim. The Denali version will be covered in a separate article. The Terrain is available in FWD and AWD, with the AWD coming in at a premium of around $2,000 over the FWD. the SL comes only in the FWD version. Standard features across all trims include alloy wheels, auto-dimming rear-view mirror, climate control, power driver seat, and keyless entry. 

As optional features, a navigation system is available on all trims from the SLE-2 and above. The SL and the SLE-1 get no optional features at all, which is a bummer and restricts features on these trims. The SLE-2 gets a Convenience package, and the SLE-2 and the SLT get the Nightfall package and two Driver Alert packages. The SLT trim gets a Memory package as well. The V6 is optional on the SLE-2 and the SLT trim.

We Recommend

We recommend the 2017 GMC Terrain SLE-2 trim. It gets the option of a V6 engine that can significantly boost performance, and comes with AWD as well. The SL and the SLE1 trim are limited trims and good if budget is a constraint. The SLE-2 trim also benefits from a much feature-rich interior, with optional items that can improve your experience even more. In terms of safety as well, the optional packages are a must as they add on some necessary driver assistance features.

"The V-6 has a grunt if you need it, otherwise the 4-cylinder Terrain is just fine." - TheCarConnection

2017 GMC Terrain Engine and Transmission

The 2017 GMC Terrain comes standard with a 2.4L I-4 engine that outputs 182 hp@ 6700 rpm and 172 lb-ft of torque @ 4900 rpm. All Terrains come mated to a 6-speed automatic transmission, and FWD is standard. Except for the SL trim, all get AWD as a paid optional add-on. The SLE-2 and the SLT trim also get the 3.6L V6 engine that outputs 301 hp and 272 lb-ft of torque. This V6 engine also comes with a 6-speed gearbox and is standard on the Denali trim.

The Terrain comes with driving modes, and in the basic mode, the gearbox is decent but changes its behavior a lot when the mode changes. The Eco mode causes the torque converter to lock up sooner, causing late shifts.  All in all, the Terrain is more suited for highway long runs with this performance.

These four cars are very competitively priced and have similar-sized engines as well. The Honda is the only one that gets a CVT, whereas all the others get a 6-speed automatic. The Terrain and the Equinox share the same engine and thus have the same power and torque output. The RAV4 has the biggest engine but makes the least power among the four. The CR-V has a better power output than the GM twins which is more by 2 hp. Surprisingly, even the RAV4 makes the same torque as the GM twins.

2017 GMC Terrain Acceleration

The 2017 GMC Terrain powered by the 2.4L I-4 engine has a 0-60 mph time of 9 seconds. With the AWD system, this increases to 9.5 seconds, showing that the Terrain is not a fast car at all. With the 3.6L V6 engine, the 0-60 mph time stands at a healthy 6 seconds, quicker by over 3 seconds. The 2.4L Terrain has a quarter-mile time of 16.5 seconds.

The 3.6L V6 Terrain took 15 seconds for its quarter-mile. The top speed for the Terrain stands at 125 mph for the 2.4L engine. One thing to note is that the 6-speed gearbox with the 3.6L engine does not have good shift times, and lags under redlining for better power and torque.

The 2017 RAV4 has the least power output but is the quickest car from 0-60 mph thanks to a lighter boy and a more aerodynamic design. The gearbox is also right on shifts, which enables it to go faster. The CR-V comes in second with an 8.6 seconds time. The Terrain takes 9 seconds, whereas the Equinox despite being slightly lighter than the Terrain is the slowest, at 9.3 seconds. The Terrain however has a quicker quarter-mile run and also has a better top speed.

2017 GMC Terrain Handling and Steering

The 2017 GMC Terrain SUV maintains its line in a straight line, with the steering and handling most composed. In turn, however, the Terrain loses its composure and has a lot of body roll. The rivals offer a more engaging driving experience. The suspension is well-tuned and absorbs all undulations and bumps without transmitting them to the cabin. The driving modes don't make much of a difference overall. The electric power steering on the standard Terrain is responsive but not as much as the rivals. 

The Terrain does not have good acceleration, and for passing another car one has to floor the pedal for the transmission to work and get you the right speed for an overtake. Even for daily driving, although the handling and steering both are sufficient, they are limited by the engine and the transmission.

2017 GMC Terrain Braking

The GMC Terrain features a 12.6 inches front brake rotor, and an 11.9 inch rear brake rotor. The braking is progressive, and the car does not nose-dive under hard braking conditions. For a car that weighs 3800 lbs, the Terrain stops well.

The car gets ventilated disc brakes on all four wheels, and the FWD version stops from 60-0 mph in a distance of 122 feet.

The Terrain and the Equinox get the same brake sizes, and these are the biggest among these four cars. Despite that, the slightly lighter Equinox stops quicker than the Terrain at 119 feet. The CR-V has the best stopping distance of 117 feet, whereas the Toyota RAV4 with the smallest brakes takes 125 feet to stop. 

2017 GMC Terrain Towing Capacity

The standard towing capacity on the Terrain stands at 1,500 lbs, for the 2.4L engine, with FWD. With AWD, this increases slightly. The higher trims have a towing capacity of 3,500 lbs. The 3.6L V6 powered Terrain's towing capacity also stands at 3,500 lbs.

All the four cars in this comparison have the same towing capacity at 1,500 lbs.

The 2017 GMC Terrain SUV powered by the 2.4L engine with the FWD drivetrain returns 21 mpg in the city, 31 mpg on the highway, and 25 mpg combined. With the AWD system the fuel economy drops to 23 mpg combined, at 20 mph in the city, and 28 mpg on the highway. The 3.6L V6 with the FWD has a fuel economy of 17 mpg in the city, 24 mpg on the highway, and 20 mpg combined. This economy drops to 18 mpg combined, with 16 mpg in the city, and 23 mpg on the highway with the AWD. The Terrain has an 18.8-gallon fuel tank and has a combined range of 470 miles combined with the 2.4L engine and FWD.

The CR-V has the most fuel economy at 28 mpg combined, with the best highway economy of 32 mpg. The RAV4 also has a better economy at 26 mpg, whereas the GM twins have the least combined economy at 25 mpg. The Terrain and the Equinox have the same fuel capacity, whereas the CR-V has the least tank size at 14 gallons. The most city range is offered by the Equinox and the Terrain, at 395 miles, and the most highway range as well at 582 miles. Despite having better economies, the Toyota RAV4 and the Honda CR-V do not offer that great of a city range.

"The GMC Terrain's sliding second row is one of our favorite features, and it's still very versatile" - TheCarConnection

2017 GMC Terrain Seating and Comfort

The interiors on the 2017 GMC Terrain are well-made and suit an SUV. The interior features unique styling, with well-positioned controls and buttons. The materials used are better than before, and the leather has that premium feel to it. The quality of the interior is good, and the surfaces do have a neatness to their finish. The overall fit and finish are pretty satisfactory as well. However, there are a few areas where the use of hard plastics degrades the quality and a few surfaces feel hollow. The car, however, has good interior storage spaces in the form of an oversized glovebox, laptop-sized enter armrest storage bin apart from the door pockets, and cubby holders. 

In terms of seating, the 5-seater Terrain is comfortable and supportive, with available adjustments. The seats are wide and have good bolstering overall. The front seats have long legroom that aids when on the road for longer journeys. Even the tall height means tall passengers will be comfortable without any adjustments. In the rear, the sliding mechanism allows for adjustment for longer legroom or to provide more cargo space. The doors are large and open wide enough to allow for easy ingress and egress. The Terrain has large windows and a tall height, that provides good visibility all around the car. Yes, the thick C-pillar does create a small blindspot and limits visibility in that section.

The interior space on all the four cars is pretty similar, with some dimensions being better in some cars and some being less. Upfront, the Equinox has a taller headroom, whereas the RAV4's front legroom is among the best in this class. At the rear, there is not much difference in the headroom, but the RAV4 has the least legroom on offer. The CR-V's rear is more roomy and spacious. The Japanese rivals manage to offer more spacious interiors comparatively despite having a tighter wheelbase. Some interior features on the Terrain are:

• Cruise Control
• Power driver seat
• Rear seats with sliding and reclining function
• Tilt-and-telescopic steering wheel
• Electrochromatic inside rearview mirror
• Automatic climate control

2017 GMC Terrain Infotainment

The 2017 GMC Terrain's infotainment system is simple, with a straightforward layout and logically arranged controls that are easy to use. There are a few hard buttons as well. The responses to the touch inputs are quick, with delays and lags being a very rare thing. The one downside of this infotainment system is that the touchscreen is hard to reach and the virtual buttons although easy to use are difficult to navigate due to their size. Some standard infotainment features on every Terrain trim include OnStar telematics, Bluetooth phone connectivity, a 7-inch touchscreen interface, USB port, auxiliary audio input, WiFi hotspot, AM/FM radio, and a 6-speaker sound system. 

Some other infotainment features include:

• Satellite radio
• Pioneer eight-speaker audio system
• IntelliLink system
• Bluetooth audio connectivity
• Navigation system ($795)
• Subwoofer

2017 GMC Terrain Cargo Capacity

The 2017 GMC Terrain SUV has a standard cargo capacity of 31.6 cu-ft with all the seats occupied. This cargo capacity is the least among these four cars, with the maximum cargo capacity with the rear seats folded going up to 63.9 cu-ft. Despite having a long wheelbase, the cargo capacity is decent but not as much as the rivals offer.

Cargo loading on the Terrain is slightly more cumbersome thanks to the higher loading floor. Also, the rear seats do not fold down completely flat, which again restricts the available cargo space and luggage has to be loaded by carefully preparing a loading methodology. The rivals have a flat rear row when folded down. 

The standard cargo capacity is the most on the Honda CR-V, at 39.2 cu-ft. The RAV4 has a slightly less capacity at 38.4 cu-ft. The Equinox offers a similar capacity to the Terrain. The maximum capacity also is the most on the Honda and the Toyota, at 75.8 cu-ft and 73.4 cu-ft. The Equinox has a maximum cargo space of 63.7 cu-ft, which is 0.2 cu-ft less than the Terrain. On the Japanese rival cars, the loading is easier thanks to a lower and flat loading bay.

"The 2017 GMC Terrain carries forward with the macho-ization of the automaker." TheCarConnection

2017 GMC Terrain Dimensions and Weight

The 2017 GMC Terrain has no changes to the exterior from the 2016 model, where it got a general update to its exterior styling. Now the car blends with the modern design language, while still retaining its original profile and styling. The design is sharp, and the car has a straight stance. There is a chance that this car's exterior will remind you of the Hummer. A compact Hummer (the irony) actually. The front features hood that gets a power dome, and the bumper incorporates the LED DRLs available on the higher trims. Along the side, we have the boxy outwards protruding wheel arches and chrome door handle, and a chrome beltline around the windows. The C-pillar has been blacked out which does a good job at hiding its thickness. The word "Terrain" is also neatly stuck on to the lower part of the front door. 

At the rear, the car gets a rear privacy glass, and the 'GMC' lettering on a think chrome strip between the more horizontally elongated taillights. The lower part of the tail section also gets the same design seen on the front bumper around the LED DRLs. Two dual exhausts with a chrome finish complete the look. All in all, the car looks built, and has an imposing stance, which is better than its Chevy cousin, the Equinox. The Terrain has a length of 185 inches, with a width and height of 72.8 inches and 66 inches respectively. The car weighs 3792 lbs, and has a ground clearance of 6.9 inches. The wheelbase is long, at 112.5 inches.

The GMC shares its wheelbase with the Chevy, and the RAV4 shares its wheelbase with the CR-V at 104.7 inches. The Equinox is the longest car. In terms of width, the CR-V and the Equinox are the widest at 73 inches each. The Terrain and the Equinox also are the tallest among these four. In terms of ground clearance, all the cars offer sufficient height but the RAV4 sits the closest to the ground. In terms of weight, the Terrain is the heaviest, whereas the RAV4 is the most light at 3455 lbs.

Some exterior features on the Terrain are:

• LED DRLs
• Rear privacy glass
• Rood rack
• Alloy wheels
• Heated mirrors
• Dual exhaust set-up

The 2017 GMC Terrain gets decent ratings from the testing authorities. The NHTSA rated the Terrain with an overall rating of 4-stars, with a 4-star rating in the rollover test, and a rollover risk of 17.4%. The IIHS gave the Terrain an overall rating of 'Good' even in the small-overlap crash test. Standard safety features on the 2017 Terrain include stability control, traction control, antilock brakes, airbags, and a rearview camera. There are a few driver assistance systems on offer as well, and the car also gets a few optional safety packages. Some of these features on the Terrain are:

• OnStar emergency communications system
• Lane departure warning
• Forward collision alert
• Blind-spot monitoring system
• Rear parking sensors
• Tire Pressure Monitoring system

2017 GMC Terrain vs 2017 Honda CR-V

The 2017 Honda CR-V is a segment leader SUV, and is an all-rounder. In terms of direct comparison, the CR-V is the better option of the two. It produces more power and torque than the Terrain, and is light in terms of weight as well. The CR-V has quick acceleration, and performs better than the Terrain in terms of performance runs. The fuel economy offered by the CR-V is also the best in this segment. The Terrain has sluggish acceleration and low fuel efficiency.

The interiors on the CR-V are better in terms of quality and finish, and the interior space is quite large as well. Over the Terrain, the Honda also benefits from its large cargo space and its long list of standard features. Even the handling on the CR-V is better than that on the Terrain, with precise steering inputs and less body roll. Both the cars score well on the safety tests, with the Honda coming out on top. The Terrain, however, has better reliability and is much more affordable. 

2017 GMC Terrain vs 2017 Chevrolet Equinox

The Equinox is very similar to the Terrain mechanically. The cars share the same powertrain, the same gearbox, the same fuel economy, similar features, cargo space, capacity, and a similar reliability rating as well. The Terrain, however, is better made in terms of interior quality, and the fit and finish are excellent. In terms of safety features, the Terrain is slightly ahead.

The Terrain has better safety ratings than the Equinox. The Equinox is, however, more affordable than the Terrain. Both the cars do the same basics, and one is just more premium than the other. As a result, between the Equinox and the Terrain, it's more of a luxurious choice.

The aging 2017 GMC Terrain compact crossover SUV does put up a strong fight, but it does not have all the ammunition it needs to stand its ground. It does have lower cargo space, and suffers from a low economy, but at the price the Terrain is offered, these are just a few compromises that the buyer has to make. Also, it's important to note that the Terrain will undergo a makeover next year, which means that the 2018 Terrain will be better equipped and will be a much better package overall. In our opinion, a used Terrain would probably make more sense, or you can look at the recently updated RAV4.

Check out some other rivals of the GMC Terrain:

• The 2022 Ford Escape
• The sporty choice over the Terrain: the 2022 Mazda CX-5

2017 GMC Terrain FAQs

How many miles can a Terrain last?

The GMC Terrain can do 300,000 miles without sweat, with no major problems.

How reliable is the GMC Terrain?

The Terrain has a J.D. Power overall reliability rating of 84/100.

Between the Equinox and the Terrain, which is the better pick?

The Terrain is the better car thanks to its more premium interiors and slightly better performance.

Will the Terrain run on regular gasoline?

Yes, the Terrain will run on regular gasoline with an octane rating of 87 and above.

Does the Terrain have good long-term value?

The Terrain, on average has a depreciation percentage of 47% after 5 years. This gives the Terrain an average list price of $23,200.